Apparatus for cementing wells



Ncv. 10, '1942. l R. F. FARRls 2,301,389.

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed Aug. 22, 1940 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 T orrlcs l ascissa Arraasrus Foa omarmd WELLS Riley Floyd Farris,

Y Okla., assignor to Tulsa, Stanoliml Oil and Gas Company, Tulsa, Ghia., s. corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1940, Serial No. 353,6#'1

- 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus cmployed in the cementing o! wells. More particularly my invention provides an apparatus for dispersing thick gels formed in cement slurries.

It has been generally assumed that the thin `slurries oi' oil well cements ilowed through the casing with a turbulent motion and that the slurries remained uniformly mixed to a low consistency. Recent investigations, however, have shown that the cement slurry, yin the course of the cementing operation, gelsto a thick mass which moves as a plugthrough the casing. It has been observed that the slurry forms andai-f tial gel that is reversible to an apparent iluid state i! subjected to shearing action but ii the slurry is not disturbed the unstable sel will gradually progress on to the initial set. In a cementing operation the danger lies in the possibility that the unstable gel will progress to the stable gel or initial set and flow as a plug before placement of the slurry is completed. 'I'his condition is quite undesirable since it favors poor mud displacement, channeling, and weakness in the set cement. Cement cores taken from wells Vwhile drilling out the plug show that where the plug ilow phenomenon existed. unsoundness usually prevails.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus for placing cement whereby the slurry remains uniform and nuid by dispersing the thick initial gels or by preventing the formation o! such gels within the well casing. I attain this and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, by providinga plurality oi' shearing devices -at vertically spaced points along substantial lengths oi' the casing. These devices may be incorporated in the casing collars, or may be disposed between lengths of the casing, as v shown, or within special casing sections.

In the drawing, which forms a part oi' this specification:

Figm'e 1 is a vertical transverse section through a well casing string incorporating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the particular device shown between casing sections in Fig- Figure 3 is a vertical section of another modlilcation oi my cementing apparatus and Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4 4 in Figure 3; and

Figures 5 and 6 are corresponding views of a third modiiication oi' the invention.

Referring to these figures and particularly to Figure 1, I have found thatit the cement slurry 55 of the shear devices.

40 In following my invention,

(ci. ies-1) 5 blades Il or the like adapted to subject the cement slurry to repeated shearing at vertically spaced intervals. This reduces the tendency to i'orm gels and dispersos any gels that do form.

Figures 2 to 6 inclusive illustrate various forms Figure 2, for example, shows a shearing plate with narrow, straight blades I2 extending from hub or center i3 to the annular member i4. This plate is made of drillable material, such as Bakelite and is designed to be collected and carried to the bottom of the well by the top plug.

y'Figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment oi.' my invention designed to operate with the two-plug method of cementing. Thin spring steel lingers 2,0 Il extending radially from ring i8 have narrow knife-like edges in the path oi' the flowing cement. 'Ihe lingers I5 terminate in coli springs il which in turn are anchored in ring i6. As described above the assembly is placed at spaced points between sections of the casing. Likewise the blades or'iingers I l may be carried directly by the coupling or collar i8. The blades f5 are adapted tojdeilect in either direction to allow passage oi any object within the well after which the blades assume a position eiiective in dispersinz the zel.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a third modification ofmy invention wherein a-plurality oi' iiexible steel blades i9 with the broad faces 20 in the path of the cement extend from the ring 2i in the general direction of the ilow of cement. A solid object such as a cementing plug can easily pass through the device by forcing the springs down and out flat against the casing.

a plurality of gel dispersing devices are placed in the casing string at vertically spaced points as the casing string is assembled. This is accomplished by'placing, one dispersing device within the coupling il and on top of the uppermost section of the part oi the string already assembled, and screwing the next casing section into the coupling.

4 I prefer to use at least four or tive oi' these gel dispersing devices spaced more or less uni- I formly throughout the length of the casing. In

many instances a much larger numberl of these devices is desirable. They can be spaced several casing lengths apart. Thus spacing of from feet to 1200 feet are Suitable, the wider spacing being used only when the well is deep and when ff the cementing opera on is accomplished very rapidly. y l

After the casing has been lowered toposition in the hole, cement is pumped in and caused to travel upwardly between the casing and sides of the well. Often when cement is introduced into deep well casings, it develops localized gel formations which have an ultimately adverse eifect on the properties of the cement after setting. However. as the cement passes thesuccessive plates or spring blades, the slurry is placed.-

in a state of shear throughout substantial lengths of the casing string and the undesirable eli'ect of the` gels is overcome.

In a single plug cementing operation the plate 2,301,389 varranged to subject a cement slurry iiowing tending across the ilow area of said well casing and being adapted to yield to the passage of a cementins plus through said casing.

shown in Figure 2 can be used advantageously-,- It is constructed of drillable material having properties which permit the cementm plug to collect and carry the drillable plates to the `-bot tom of the well. The modications shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be used in either la oneor two-plug operation, the blades being ilexible enough to permit passagel of the plug or other solid object but rigid enough to subject the slurry to a shearing action.

^ It is apparent from the above that I have provided simple means for improving the cementing of wells whereby localized gels are overcome and plug flow is avoided.

While I have shown preferred iorms of .my invention, it is to be understood that various changesggnay be made in the construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as deiined` by ythe claims. if.;

I claim: i Y

l. An apparatus for cementing a well comprising a well casing assembly, and a plurality of inwardly projecting means carried ,by said well 3. An apparatus for cementing a well comprising a well casing and a plurality, oi means within said casing for conditioning a cement slurry nowing thereimsaid means being flexible and adapted to permit passage of solid objects.

4. In an apparatus for cementing alwell, means within a kwell casing adapted for maintaining a cement slurry in a state o! shear, said means comprising an annular supporting member and a plurality of flexible blades projecting inwardly from said annular member.

5. An apparatus for ycenienting a well comprising irr combination a well casing. and a plurality of shearing means arranged at longitudinally spaced points within said well casing for conditioning a cement slurry ilowing therein,

each o! said means comprising a plurality of yieldable elements normally extending into the now area ot said well casing'.

.6. In an apparatus ior cementing a well, means adapted to be placed within a well casing for subjecting a cement slurry to shear, said means comprising an annular supporting member and a multiplicity of shear-imparting members yieldably projecting inwardly from said annular member-and adapted to extend normally intolthe flow,

area of 'said well casing.

casing assembly at a plurality of longitudinally 40 spaced points, said means being constructed and RILEY FLOYD FARMS. 

